Paratunka Magnetic Observatory

Paratunka Magnetic Observatory keeps watch over the Earth's magnetic field from the southern Kamchatka Peninsula in the Russian Far East, just 30 kilometres from the Pacific Ocean.

About Paratunka Magnetic Observatory

Paratunka is the most easterly Russian observatory carrying out regular measurements of the total magnetic field vector, and has recorded continuous magnetic data since 1967. It is operated by the Institute of Cosmophysical Researches and Radio Wave Propagation (IKIR), part of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

History

Continuous measurements at Paratunka began in 1967, and the observatory has since modernised from analogue to digital magnetometers. It was certified as part of the international INTERMAGNET network in 2009, joining IKIR's other certified stations at Magadan and, later, Khabarovsk.

Telescopes & research

Rather than telescopes, Paratunka runs precision magnetometers under a cooperative arrangement with the German research centre GFZ, contributing continuous geomagnetic data to international researchers studying the Earth's magnetic field.

Location & getting there

The observatory sits on the Kamchatka Peninsula in the Russian Far East, a remote volcanic region close to the Pacific coast.

Visiting Paratunka Magnetic Observatory

As a specialist geophysical research station, Paratunka does not publish general visitor hours; contact IKIR for current access information before planning a trip.

See your named star from here

Kamchatka's remote, sparsely lit skies are a dramatic place to look up at night, even though Paratunka's own instruments are tuned to the Earth rather than the stars. Name a star to mark this far corner of the world, then find it in our star catalogue or browse our observatories page for more locations.